Several LIV Golf stars, like Anirban Lahiri, have seen their world rankings decline, which has hurt their chances of competing for India in the Olympics this summer.
As he and other LIV Golf stars continue to tumble in the world rankings, Anirban Lahiri has issued an appeal to “wake up” to those involved in the professional game of golf. This week, Lahiri is playing on home soil at the Indian Open at DLF Golf & Country Club, marking his comeback to the DP World Tour. The Crushers GC member will get an opportunity to gain some much-needed Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points as he falls down the rankings thanks to the sponsor exemption.
The Indian star has moved out of the top-400 of the OWGR since switching to the breakaway circuit, which still holds events without ranking points available. This is a far cry from his previous position in the top-40 of the world rankings.
Lahiri’s chances of traveling to Paris for the Olympic Games this summer have also been hampered by this, as he has lost the ability to play in the four major championships of golf. The Indian star became the most recent member of LIV to express his dissatisfaction with their continuous ranking problem ahead of his home Open in Gurugram this week.
It could happen that many very skilled players are unable to go to Paris. And perhaps that’s what’s required for everyone to see that action is required,” he said. The Saudi-backed series declared earlier this month that it had given up on chasing ranking points after the OWGR rejected its applications.
Even though Lahiri is obviously not satisfied with the circumstances, he has stated that he intends to join the Olympic team, first at DLF Country Club and then on the Asian Tour. “I’m not going to sit around whining. I’m hoping for eight or twelve solid rounds following the Indian Open.
“It depends on a number of variables, but I will find those events on the Asian Tour.” I can handle this by doing four solid rounds this week. The Olympics are still unresolved. I have a long number of reasons, just like any athlete, for why I didn’t perform well at the two Games, but let the past go. I’m not sorry I decided to join LIV.”
The right to compete for Olympic gold in Paris this August will be granted to the top two players in each country’s OWGR rankings. Right now, 36-year-old Lahiri is ranked 401st, third among Indians, after 188th-ranked Shubhankar Sharma and 248th-ranked Gaganjeet Bhullar.
Having competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and then returning to represent India in Tokyo five years later, the LIV star is no stranger to the Olympic game. June 17 is the deadline for qualifying for the men’s event at Le Golf National in August, which is two months ahead of schedule.
